Description

WHAT DOES COCAINE DO?

All in all, the million-dollar question users always ask is what does cocaine do? Cocaine increases dopamine levels in the brain, which creates a high of energy and alertness called euphoria.

You may feel happy, energetic, talkative, restless, or less hungry and sleepy.

Your senses may become more sensitive to touch, sound, and sight.

When you are high, you may engage in risky behaviors, such as spending too much money or having unprotected sex.

The traditional way to use cocaine is to snort or snort it, which allows it to be absorbed through the nasal tissues and enter the bloodstream.

Some people rub it on their gums, while others dissolve it in water and inject it with a needle for an intense, immediate effect.

Heating and snorting crack produces an almost instantaneous effect, similar to injecting it, which contributed to its popularity in the 1980s.

Some users combine cocaine with opioids such as heroin, a practice known as “speedballing.

HOW LONG DOES COCAINE TAKE TO KICK IN?

The effects of cocaine begin quickly after consumption. What does cocaine do?

Smoking produces an almost immediate high while inhaling takes a little longer to feel the effects.

COCAINE ADDICTION- WHAT DOES COCAINE DO:

Cocaine, especially crack, is highly addictive because the high is pleasurable but wears off quickly.

To prolong the good feelings and avoid the unpleasant comedown, you may continue using the drug.

This cycle can lead to cocaine use disorder, making it difficult to control how much and how often you use it.

The brain structures of the reward system change, leading to compulsive cravings and substance dependence.

With cocaine use disorder, physical and mental dependence develops, leading to withdrawal symptoms if you stop using.

Even after long periods without use, cravings for the drug may persist. What does cocaine do?

WHAT IS COCAINE?

Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that increases alertness, attention, and energy.

Cocaine is a stimulant drug derived from the South American coca plant and classified as a Schedule II controlled substance.

Although it has medical uses as a local anesthetic for some eye, ear, and throat surgeries, it is primarily used recreationally.

Illegal cocaine comes in the form of a white crystalline powder and is often mixed with substances such as flour, baking soda, or cornstarch to increase profits.

Other additives, such as amphetamines or procaine, may be included to increase potency, while synthetic opioids such as fentanyl increase risk.

Powdered cocaine is usually snorted or dissolved in water and injected intravenously.

It can also be made into a smokable form called a crack, which comes in the form of small pebbles or crystals.

HOW LONG DOES IT STAY IN THE URINE?

Cocaine usually shows up in a urine test up to three days after the last use.

Regular users can test positive up to two weeks later. What does cocaine do?

COCAINE PLANT- WHAT DOES COCAINE DO:

Cocaine is made from the leaves of the coca plant, which grows primarily in northern and western South America.

For thousands of years, people in this region have chewed and eaten coca leaves to stay alert and reduce appetite. What does cocaine do?

HOW LONG DOES THE EFFECT LAST?

The effects of cocaine wear off quickly, depending on how it is consumed.

Faster absorption produces a more intense but shorter effect.

Smoking produces an effect that lasts between 5 and 10 minutes, while inhalation prolongs it to 15 or 30 minutes.

WHAT IS CRACK COCAINE?

Crack is the rock or lump form of the drug, so named because of the crackling sound it makes when heated. What does cocaine do?

It is made by cooking cocaine powder with baking soda and breaking it into small stones.

People usually heat it in a glass pipe and inhale the vapor, but some mix it with tobacco or marijuana to smoke it. What does cocaine do?

Crack is stronger and more addictive than powder cocaine.

SIDE EFFECTS OF COCAINE:

Cocaine causes temporary physical reactions such as dilated pupils, narrowed blood vessels, increased body temperature, rapid heart rate, and high blood pressure.

Long-term use increases the risk of serious health problems, including headaches, organ damage, and lung problems.

Injecting it can cause HIV or hepatitis while swallowing it can cause intestinal damage.

Inhaling it can cause nosebleeds, loss of smell, runny nose, and difficulty swallowing.

Other risks include seizures, heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, movement disorders, coma, or sudden death. What does cocaine do?

Smoking crack can damage your lungs and make asthma symptoms worse. Injecting it can cause damage and infections such as HIV or hepatitis C.

RISK ( WHAT DOES COCAINE DO):

Cocaine use affects more than just physical health: it can affect your entire life.

With continued use, the brain adapts and requires higher doses to achieve the same effect, increasing the risk of addiction and overdose.

Over time, brain circuits become more sensitive, leading to negative moods when the drug is not being used.

Natural rewards, such as food and relationships, can become less satisfying when the brain becomes addicted to cocaine.

High and frequent doses cause lasting changes in brain chemistry, making it difficult to think, sleep, concentrate, remember, and make decisions.

Your reaction time may decrease, and you may experience depression, mood swings, paranoia, or violent behavior.

Some people develop hallucinations, meaning they see or hear things that are not real, which can be distressing for you and those close to you.

HOW DOES COCAINE AFFECT THE BRAIN?

Cocaine is highly addictive because of its effects on the brain.

When used, it increases dopamine levels by binding to dopamine transporters and altering communication between nerve cells.

Cocaine can cause long-lasting or irreversible effects on the brain.

Dopamine influences movement, thoughts, pleasure, and motivation.

Excess dopamine creates a feeling of euphoria, which makes users want more and reduces the pleasure of everyday activities such as exercise, sex, and eating.

COCAINE OVERDOSE:

A cocaine overdose occurs when enough of the drug is taken to cause serious, life-threatening, or fatal side effects. What does cocaine do?

Overdose can be intentional, such as in a suicide attempt, or unintentional, such as when someone unknowingly takes too much or when the drug contains other substances.

It is possible to overdose on cocaine even after a single use, especially if a person relapses after a period of abstinence because their tolerance is lower. What does cocaine do?

A cocaine overdose can cause high blood pressure, increased body temperature, agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, abnormal heart rhythms, heart attacks, seizures, strokes, and death.

HOW LONG DOES COCAINE STAY IN THE SYSTEM?

Cocaine usually stays in the body for 1 to 4 days, but in some people, it can be detected for up to a few weeks.

How long it stays in your body and how long it can be detected by a drug test depends on several factors. What does cocaine do?